Billy P Eldred Supporter

As l see it, God is testifying to the truthfulness of His statement. Because He is immortal, He will never die, therefore what he is saying is that this statement is not only true but will always be true. We can count on it! 

Can you imagine one statement that could possibly be more reliable? I have heard someone say, "As sure as the sky is blue!" That statement would pale in comparison. A dust storm can alter the fact that the sky is blue at least temporarily. What about, "As sure as the rains will come in the spring!" Again, not 100 percent. 

God even said His name is, "I am!" because He will always be! 

In the case of this verse, God is simply saying that even the champions of faithfulness in the Bible can't save you, only your faith can.

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Jeffrey Johnson Supporter

Why did the Sovereign Lord say "as surely as I live" when He is immortal?

The phrase "as surely as I live" is a solemn oath that emphasises God's active, unwavering, and eternal nature, not his mortality. By invoking his own existence, God makes a powerful and definitive statement to show the certainty of his promise, judgment, or warning. This is a standard biblical rhetorical device, using the absolute truth of God's eternal existence to underscore the gravity of the declaration being made. 

The following points confirm that his words are valid:

1: To make a solemn vow: 

In the Bible, this phrase is used by God to make a promise or declaration that is certain and can be trusted because his eternal, unchanging nature backs it.

2: To provide reassurance: 

It serves to show His active presence and involvement in the world, reassuring listeners of His consistent and enduring power.

3: To underscore a warning: 

The phrase is used to give authority and weight to His warnings and judgments, making them an inescapable reality.

4: It can be used to declare His holiness, as in Jeremiah 10:10, where it is stated that God is "the living God, the true God". 

5: Emphasising eternity: Saying "as surely as I live" highlights God's eternal existence and constant presence, contrasting with the temporary nature of earthly rulers and kingdoms.

The oath underscores God's immutability. In other words: Immutability is the quality or state of being unchanging, unalterable, or ageless. This means something cannot be changed after it has been created, whether it's a physical object, a concept, or a piece of data. Or unchanging nature. By staking His promise on His own continuous existence ("as I live"), He demonstrates that His commitment is as specific and permanent as His own being.

Note Ezekiel 33:11, Rotherham Bible: "Say unto them, 'As I live,' declareth My Lord Yahweh, 'Surely I can take no pleasure in the death of the lawless man, but that the lawless man turn from his way and live. Turn ye, turn ye from your wicked ways, for wherefore should ye die, O house of Israel?'"

This scripture expresses God's genuine grief and earnest desire for people's repentance and salvation. It is an expression of His profound passion and will for humanity to choose life.

In summary, the expression is not a statement about His mortality, but rather a powerful, self-validating affirmation of the absolute certainty and trustworthiness of His word, designed to provide maximum assurance and hope to those who hear it.

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